Nottingham Forest have made a bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Brentford are expected to reject this bid out of hand and are not keen to sell. The offer is understood to have been lower than £22m – far short of their valuation of the forward.
Wissa is one of Forest’s top targets and they were interested in him last summer.
Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to add attacking reinforcements with his side third in the table, six points behind leaders Liverpool having won seven of their last eight Premier League outings.
West Ham have previously been linked with a move for Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi but he will not be allowed to depart the City Ground unless a replacement is found.
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Take a look at some of the best goals scored by Brentford’s Yoane Wissa in the Premier League
Wissa’s current contract runs through to 2026 with the option of a further year.
The 28-year-old joined Brentford from French side Lorient in August 2021 and has scored 41 goals in 133 appearances for the west London club, providing nine assists.
The DR Congo forward has scored 11 times in 19 Premier League games so far this term with only Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Chris Wood and Brentford team-mate Bryan Mbeumo having more top-flight goals in 2024/25.
Wissa has 37 top-flight goals for the club, recently overtaking Ivan Toney after scoring in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City.
Speaking afterwards, Bees boss Thomas Frank said: “He probably should have scored two if I’m a little bit after him. But he has been very good for us and the way he has taken over from Ivan – not only him but Bryan Mbeumo as well.
“The partnership between the two of them is quite unique. We are just Brentford. I am extremely proud.”
Do the numbers show why Forest want Wissa?
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz
Nottingham Forest have a situation where Taiwo Awoniyi wants to leave having being second fiddle to the impressive Chris Wood this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will then want the next best centre forward option available to Wood – and Wissa is exactly that in the numbers. The Congolese forward also averages the per xG per shot in the Premier League this season – so gets better chances on average than Wood.
Wissa has a conversion rate to rival Wood’s and even though the Brentford forward would struggle for starts at the City Ground, Nuno’s reliance on substitutes – Forest have made the most out of any Premier League team this season – means Wissa could get minutes.
One talking point, however, is Wissa’s partnership with Bryan Mbeumo. Thomas Frank says the pair have a special relationship, combining seven times for goals since the start of last season. Wissa and Mbeumo have gone so far as to move next door to each other, such is their bond.
So would Forest be getting the same Wissa without Mbeumo?
Murillo agrees terms on new Forest deal
Meanwhile, Murillo has verbally agreed terms on a new contract at Forest.
Sky Sports News reported last week that a deal was close and it is now understood that the two sides have shaken hands on an improved contract – although the paperwork has yet to be drawn up and signed.
Tying down Murillo to a new long-term commitment was a January priority for manager Nuno Espírito Santo and club owner Evangelos Marinakis, even though his existing deal still has three-and-a-half years to run. The Brazilian defender is seen as one of the jewels in Forest’s crown.
Discussions with Ola Aina and Chris Wood continue over their contract situations, with all sides optimistic agreements will be reached.
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